Unfortunately the article is paywalled so can't read exactly what Cully has to say.
Here ya go:
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Why the NPC will have an Australian flavour this year
- Paul Culley
- Two provinces, North Harbour and Southland, will be led by Aussie No 10s.
- Waratahs playmaker Tane Edmed headlines group from across the ditch.
- Development poses depth questions for 14-team competition.
New Zealand’s premier domestic rugby competition will have an international feel this year.
Japanese front-rowers Yato Kamimori and Kazuki Kato have landed in Wellington, Welshman Mat Protheroe and Namibian Le Roux Malan will feature for Hawke’s Bay, and English import Charlie Powell has made his way down to Southland.
But the major influx has come from Australia, with more than a dozen players swapping their thongs for jandals to have a crack in New Zealand.
As first reported by The Post in June, North Harbour have landed the highest-profile Australian signing, with Waratahs No 10 Tane Edmed replacing Bryn Gatland in the No 10 jersey.
Southland have also looked to Australia in the key position, signing Jake Strachan from the Melbourne Rebels.
In Napier, Australian coach Brock James has signed Brumbies outside back Ben O’Donnell and former Rebel Lukas Ripley.
North Harbour chief executive Adrian Donald told
The Post that Edmed would add plenty of quality and leadership to replace Bryn Gatland and Jack Heighton, who was forced into early retirement due to head trauma.
But Donald said that it had been their preference to sign a New Zealand player.
“We've got a philosophy within the union that we’re very big on trying to promote players and talent out of our community club system,” he said.
“First and foremost, we want to go local. But in some instances you just can't find the right player in that region, specifically around props and No 9s and No 10s.”
The search continued within New Zealand, but a play for young Blues No 10 Lucas Cashmore was unsuccessful, with the talented playmaker re-signing for the Bay of Plenty.
That led Harbour to look overseas, and Edmed was looking for an opportunity after a frustrating season with the Waratahs.
Donald outlined the three key factors behind Edmed’s recruitment.
First, the gap between club rugby and provincial rugby was growing; second, players in their prime such as Gatland were being given “eye-watering” offers in places such as Japan; third; there was a feast or famine distribution of players in some positions throughout the country.
For example, Cashmore and fellow Chiefs playmaker Kaleb Trask will compete for game time at the Bay of Plenty, and in Otago the Highlanders’ No 10s Cameron Millar and Ajay Faleafaga will do likewise.
That means that Edmed is unlikely to be the last Australian in the NPC.
“We believe that he'll give us good depth in the position at 10,” Donald said.
“But he'll also act as a guide to Oscar Koller and a young guy [Cameron Howell] that we've brought into our environment.”
Australian players confirmed for this season’s NPC
Tane Edmed (North Harbour)
Ben Grant (North Harbour)
Ben O’Donnell (Hawke’s Bay)
Lukas Ripley (Hawke’s Bay)
Jake Strachan (Southland)
Lachie Albert (Southland)
Byron Smith (Southland)
Tuaina Taii Tualima (Auckland)
Ola Tauelangi (Auckland)
George Blake (Manawatū)
Lachlan Shaw (Manawatū)
Sateki Latu (Counties Manukau)
Richie Asiata (Northland)
- Stuff